Volleyball squad looks for ways to ‘bump’ losing

After five weeks of the season, the A&M-Commerce Lions volleyball team stands at 6-7 overall and 2-2 in conference play, after a four set loss on the road this past weekend at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

In preconference tournaments, the team went 2-2 at the 2017 Texann Invitational and 1-3 at the 2017 Steel & Silver Classic. The Lions have played against 6 top-25 ranked teams so far this season. They lost in straight sets to No. 18 Central Oklahoma and No. 23 Rockhurst, lost in four sets to No. 12 Wayne State, and losing in five sets in a heartbreaker against No. 22 Colorado School of Mines. They upset No. 5 Angelo State and No. 14 Tarleton State both in five sets to start conference play and the Lions will have the opportunity to play both Angelo State and Tarleton State again later this season to try to make a larger statement by possibly sweeping both teams during the season. Outside of conference play, the Lions defeated Dallas Baptist 3-1 in their home opener.

Since their conference opener against No. 5 Angelo State, the Lions have gone 1-2 in LSC matches losing 8-4 overall in sets. Over the weekend, the Lions held tough with the Javelinas down in Kingsville, but their four set loss by the score of 22-25, 26-24, 14-25 and 16-25 dropped them back under .500 for the season.

Statistics wise, junior outside hitter Jaryn Wacker and senior outside hitter Layne Little have led the team in kills, both are tied at 139. Senior libero Lacie Jessup leads in the team in service aces with 15, three above anyone else on the team. On the defensive side of the ball, Shelley Chapron leads the team in blocks with 54. Jessup also leads the team in digs, at 169, and Gabriela Rosa leads the team with 308 assists.

This weekend, the Lions continue Lone Star Conference play as they travel to play the Cameron University Aggies (3-8, 1-3 LSC) in Lawton, Oklahoma tomorrow night and then travel to Wichita Falls on Saturday to take on the Midwestern State Mustangs (7-5, 2-2 LSC).